The number of women 55 and older in the work force is increasing significantly and by 2015 it is projected that 20 percent of the work force will be 55 or older. This supply of older women to the work force is often a result of women returning to work after having raised a family, and many of these women struggle against ageism in the workplace. Julianne Bowman, of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Chicago office, suggests that older workers insist on regular performance reviews, because this will make it harder for employers to discriminate against workers who have a consistent record of satisfactory job performance. She also suggests that older workers keep open communication with younger staff members in an attempt to bridge the age gap.
See "Knocking down old attitudes on the job", Jacqueline Fitzgerald, Chicago Tribune, October 14, 2003